Job 32

Elihu’s Angry Response

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1} So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.^(A) ^{Tools
2} Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite^(B) from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified^(C) himself rather than God. ^{Tools
3} He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.^(a)

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4} Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. ^{Tools
5} But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry.

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6} So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied:

I am young in years,
while you are old;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to tell^(D) you what I know.

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7}

I thought that age should speak
and maturity should teach wisdom.

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8}

But it is a spirit in man^(b)
and the breath^(E) of the Almighty
that give him understanding.

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9}

It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

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10}

Therefore I say, “Listen to me.
I too will declare what I know.”

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11}

Look, I waited for your conclusions;
I listened to your insights
as you sought for words.

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12}

I paid close attention to you.
Yet no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you refuted his arguments.

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13}

So do not claim, “We have found wisdom;
let God deal with him, not man.”

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14}

But Job has not directed his argument to me,
and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

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15}

Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer;
words have left them.

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16}

Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,
now that they stand there and no longer answer?

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17}

I too will answer;^(c)
yes, I will tell what I know.

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18}

For I am full of words,
and my spirit^(d) compels me to speak.^(F)

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19}

My heart^(e) is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like new wineskins.^(G)

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20}

I must speak so that I can find relief;
I must open my lips and respond.

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21}

I will be partial to no one,^(H)
and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

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22}

For I do not know how to give such titles;
otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Footnotes:

a. Job 32:3: Ancient Jewish tradition reads condemned God

b. Job 32:8: Or is the Spirit in a person

c. Job 32:17: Lit answer my part

d. Job 32:18: Lit and the spirit of my belly

e. Job 32:19: Lit belly

Cross references:

A. Job 32:1: Job 10:7; Job 33:9; Job 34:5-6

B. Job 32:2: Genesis 22:21; Jeremiah 25:23

C. Job 32:2: Job 33:32; Jeremiah 3:11; Ezekiel 16:51-52

D. Job 32:6: Job 15:17; Job 36:2

E. Job 32:8: Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; Isaiah 42:5

F. Job 32:18: Job 19:3; Job 32:18; Acts 4:20

G. Job 32:19: Job 15:35; Job 37:1; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 20:30

H. Job 32:21: Deuteronomy 10:17; Job 13:8; Job 34:19